Oklahoma
In a red state, the culture war shifts
By Bobby Ross Jr. — May 27, 2016
EDMOND, Okla. (RNS) In a state where appeals to traditional values have long resonated with voters, the public is angry and willing to boot incumbents over underfunded schools, crumbling infrastructure and failing health and prison systems.
Okla. library revises book-signing policy after Satanist asks to read from book
By Greg Horton — October 20, 2015
LAWTON, Okla. (RNS) Adam Daniels wanted to read and sign copies of “Ahrimani Enlightenment,” a book that explains the basics of the church’s nontraditional form of Satanism.
Okla. Ten Commandments statue moves to think tank near Capitol
By Greg Horton — October 6, 2015
OKLAHOMA CITY (RNS) By Tuesday, the monument was already installed at the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs just a few blocks from the Capitol.
Oklahoma Republicans offer home to Ten Commandments monument
By Reuters — October 2, 2015
A state judge in September gave Oklahoma until Oct. 12 to remove the 6-foot-tall monument.
Oklahoma to remove Ten Commandments monument from Capitol by Oct. 12
By Reuters — September 30, 2015
OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) The state's Supreme Court ordered the monument removed because the state constitution bans the use of state property for the benefit of a religion.
Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics jumps into Bible, pot debate
By Greg Horton — September 3, 2015
OKLAHOMA CITY (RNS) After two commenters posted references to the Bible in response to a story about the effects of marijuana on the brain, a bureau employee engaged them in a theological argument.
Manager of Oklahoma gun store and range declares it ‘Muslim-free’ zone
By Greg Horton — August 13, 2015
OKLAHOMA CITY (RNS) Gun range manager Chad Neal, a medically discharged veteran, said last month’s shooting at the military recruiting station in Chattanooga, Tenn., prompted him to hang the sign in the door.
Hobby Lobby’s Steve Green’s Bible curriculum is a hit in Israeli schools
By Michele Chabin — June 15, 2015
JERUSALEM (RNS) The Israeli pilot program, known as TAMAR represents the Museum of the Bible's first successful educational program. Last year, an Oklahoma school district shelved a similar pilot curriculum.
Oklahoma plan to restrict same-sex marriage may backfire
By Reuters — March 20, 2015
OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) Oklahoma's conservative lawmakers came up with a religious tactic to block same-sex weddings. In a twist, their efforts to restrict who can perform marriages could make it easier for gay couples to wed.
The myth and lie of American exceptionalism (COMMENTARY)
By Tom Ehrich — February 24, 2015
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (RNS) Facts get in the way of teaching the history that many want to remember, the history in which whites play a starring role, not their actual and much more complicated roles.
Oklahoma bill would punish officials for marrying gay couples
By Reuters — February 19, 2015
OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) The "Preservation of Sovereignty and Marriage Act" prohibits taxpayer funds, including government salaries, to be used for any activity that supports same-sex marriage.
Oklahoma pastors will preach in hoodies to protest proposed state bill banning hoods
By Greg Horton — January 16, 2015
OKLAHOMA CITY (RNS) “We do not have people roaming the streets in hoodies or masks committing crimes," said one pastor who planned to wear a hooded sweatshirt to church Sunday.
Executions drop to lowest level in two decades
By Kevin Johnson — December 19, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) The 72 death sentences issued in 2014 represents the fewest in 40 years, according to a leading anti-death penalty advocacy group.
Supreme Court allows gay marriage to expand to 30 states
By Richard Wolf — October 6, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) The unexpected decision by the justices immediately affects five states in which federal appeals courts had struck down bans against gay marriage: Virginia, Indiana, Wisconsin, Oklahoma and Utah.
Botched execution could slam brakes on death penalty
By Gregg Zoroya — May 1, 2014
(RNS) Richard Dieter, executive director of the nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center, said the Oklahoma case would add momentum to efforts to halt lethal injection until the process is better understood and there is more transparency to what states are trying to do.
